Slat for venetian blinds and method of making



Jan. 26, 1937. c;` D DODGE 2,068,977

SLAT FOR VENETIAN BLINDS AND METHOD OF MAKING Filed Sept. 24, 1934 Patented Jan. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLAT FOR VENETIAN BLINDS AND METHOD OF MAKING This invention relates to venetian blinds, and particularly to venetian blind slats.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a very attractivefhighly ornamental venetian blind slat, which is provided with contrasting surfaces of pleasing and ornamental appearance, and which has great light deflecting or diffusing capabilities and qualities.

Another object of the invention is to provide a venetian blind slat having a wood, painted or lacquered surface on one side, and a smooth highly polished metal surface on the other side, whereby a great contrast is presented between the two surfaces to produce a pleasing highly ornamental effect.

A further object of-the invention is to provide a laminated venetian blind slat having a wood or composite body portion and a metal inlaid or metal covered portion fastened thereto.

2 A still further object is to provide a laminated slat and the method of fastening the laminations together, so as to produce a slat having surfaces thereof made of different materials to present a contrasting appearance. I Another object of the invention is to provide a laminated blind slail which is made of a material or materials so asto prevent the slats from producing a rattling sound, and which if engaging each other do not make any sound, or at the most,

a dead sound.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of the invention, and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. lis a detail perspective view of a venetian blind, and embodying the invention, the slats being arranged in flat horizontal position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the slats in tilted position.

Fig. 3 is a detail transverse sectional view of a venetian blind slat shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view similar to Fig. 3,

but on a greatly enlarged scale.

Figs. 5, 6 and 'l are detail sectional views of modied forms of slats. l

It is highly desirable to provide venetian blind slats with contrasting surfaces. At the present time, there is a large demand for venetian blinds for the purpose of A,attractively displaying wares in show rooms and show windows, where a yenetian blind having contrasting but harmeizing surfaces is desired to lit in with the color scheme of the display. For instance, a display window arranged to display a piano produces a pleasing effect which is instantly caught by the eyes of the passersby as when a highly polished chromium plated venetian blind is positioned behind the piano. A straight, flat, reflecting surface such as 5 a mirror would not attain this pleasing effect, nor would lt attract the eye as rapidly, because of the conventional use of mirrors. Therefore, by makingthe slats of the venetian blind of contrasting colors or materials, an entirely different effect is 10 produced which is pleasing to the aesthetic faculties. Furthermore, when the blind is used in an opening such as a window opening, it is desirable that the blind have high light diffusing or deileeting characteristics. A venetian blind con- 15 structed in accordance with the present invention therefore, can diffuse the outside light without darkening the room, or if desired, the blinds can be tilted so that the bright light is diffused, and the soft plain color of the remaining part of the blind will be visible. In large dining rooms, banquet lialls, and other places, a very desirable and ornamental effect is produced if one side of the blind is highly polished metal, and the other side has a painted color applied thereto, which makes 25 asharp contrast to the polished metal surface. If the slat supporting tapes are the same color as the painted or lacquered portions of the blind, the contrast and the color scheme is considerably enhanced. 30 Another type of venetian blindslat wherein a brous filler is surrounded by a sheet metal covering is disclosed and claimed in applicants copending application Serial No. 724,941, filed May 10, 1934:.v I 35 The present invention, therefore, relates to the manufacture and assembly of venetian blinds and slats thereof which have a metal surface onl one side, and a wood or composite portion of a contrasting color on the other side. 40 In the accompanying drawing there is shown a venetian blind having a plurality of slats I0 carried by tapes II which support the slats, and which hold the slats in proper spaced relationship. The slats may be provided 'with cord re- 45 ceiving openings I2 through which the blind operating cords I3 pass for operating the blind in the usual conventional manner. The blind is provided with the usual tilting bar for tilting the slats through various angles in accordance with'50 l the movement of the tilting bar.

The slats I0 each have contrasting surfaces I4 and I5. In/the drawing, the upper surface I4 of the slatscomprises a metal strip I6 which is mounted on the upper side I1 of the lower por- 55 tion I8. The lower portion I8 may be of wood, fiber, or any composite material, and is adapted to have the upper metal surface I 6 applied thereto. 'I'he upper surface I6 is preferably formed of relatively thin sheet metal which may be plated with any suitable material such as chromium. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the bottom part or base I8 of the slat more clearly shown in Fig. 4, may be recessed as indicated at I9 to provide an opening into which the upper portion I6 of the slat is received. The upper portion I6 of the slat is preferably formed around a filler 20. The filler may be any fibrous material such as wood, cardboard, and the like, with the sheet metal fixed thereto, bent around the edges thereof as indicated at 2|, and lapped about the under surface as indicated'at 22. If the metal is of any appreciable thickness, the bottom member I8 may be provided with an additional recess 23 to receive the overlapping portion or flange 22. The recess I9 extends inwardly from the edges 24 of the slats a predetermined distance to provide an edge which is of the same material as the bottom portion of the slat. The metal portion I6 and its filler 20 may be fastened to the upper surface II by a proper adhesive 25. This construction provides a venetian blind having a lower surface I8 and edges 24 made of one material such as wood, which may be painted or lacquered any color desirable. The metal surface I6 provides a highly polished metallic appearing surface which is in sharp contrast with the remaining portion of the slat. Thus, when the slat is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a considerable portion of polished metal is presented, but this metal surface is broken up by the horizontal lines of contrasting color due to the appearance of the end edges 24.

In the modification shown in Fig. the slat Ill comprises a bottom brous portion 30 such as wood, which is recessed at 3| to receive the bottom ange 32 of the plated metal upper surface 33. The outer edge 34 of the metal may extend about the edge of the slat a distance substantially equal to one-half thickness of the finished slat, whereby the edges of the slat provide the metal portion 35 and the painted or colored portion 36. The metal covering 33 is formed about a central ller member 31 which is adhesively or otherwise fastened to the bottom portion of the slat as indicated at 38.

In Fig. 6 the bottom portion 40 of the slat I0 is relatively flat, the metal portion `4I being formed around the ller 42 with the fiange 43 recessed into the filler. The upper portion and lower portion of the slat are adhesively fastened together as indicated at 44. The slat shown in Fig. 6, like the slat shown in Fig. 5, provides an edge having contrasting portions 45 and 46.

Instead of forming the metal surface about a filler and then fastening the filler to a bottom wooden portion, a metal strip 58 may be imbedded in a slat 5I formed of composite material, Fig. 7. The composite slat portion 5I may be of any material practical or desirable, such as impregnated wood or bakelite, and the upper-metal surface 50 may be imbedded therein during the formation or treatment of the slat. One way of forming the slat, is to mold the slat of composite material and insert the metal in the mold and then mold the composite material, whereby thev metal portion may be an integral port of the finished slat. Another way of producing the slat shown in Fig. 7 is by making a slat from suitable fibrous material such-"as wood or cardboard, and then impregnating or treating the slat with a suitable substance, the substance causing the metal to adhere tightly to the slat. One material well known on the market is Catalan This material impregnates the wood or fibrous material and forms a tight adhesive bind between the metal and the balance of the slat, rendering the slat water-proof and preventing warping.

Regardless of how the slat is constructed, or from which materials the slat is made, the invention provides the means and method of producing a highly ornamental slat of pleasing appearance having a polished metal surface on one side and a contrasting painted surface on the other side. The slats are light in Weight, and due to the manner in which they are constructed and laminated, do not have the usual rattling or clattering sound, but instead have a dead sound. Slats made in accordance with this invention can be very economically constructed, and they are very light i weight, while at the same time are relatively strong and durable in construction.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of. the invention, or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes which fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A venetian blind slat having a metal surface member on one side thereof, and a surface member of contrasting material and color on the other side thereof, a filler member arranged between said surface members, and means for fastening said i'lller and said surface members together.

2. A venetian blind slat having a metal surface on one side thereof, and a surface member of contrasting material and color on the other side thereof, said metal surface having a portion thereof bent inwardly, means under the metal surface and within the bent portion, and means for fastening the said means to said surface member of. contrasting material.

3. A venetian blind slat comprising a bottom member having a recess formed therein, an upper member arranged in said recess, and means for fixing said two members together.

4. A venetian blind slat comprising a bottom member having a recess formed therein, a metal surface member arranged in said recess, and means for fastening the members together.

5. A venetian blind slat comprising a ller member, a metal sheet about one side of said filler member and extending over the ends thereof a lower member of different material, and means for fastening the ller member to the lower member.

6. A venetian blind slat comprising a filler member, a metal sheet about one side of said filler member and extending over the ends thereof, another member of different material arranged adjacent the filler member, and means for fastening said last two named together.

7. A venetian blind slat comprising a metal sheet, a filler member to which the sheet is fastened, and an additional member fastened to said filler member. l

8. A venetian blind slat having a bottom member, and a metal strip imbedded in said member.

9. A venetian blind slat comprising a body member made of composite material, and a metal strip imbedded in said composite member, said strip being fastened to said composite member by the adhesive characteristics of the composite member.

10. A venetian' blind slat comprising an elongated body member having a longitudinally extending groove therein, and a sheet metal strip on said body having a portion lying within said groove.

1 1. A venetian blind slat comprising an elongated body member having a longitudinally extending groove therein, and a sheet metal strip on said body, said strip having crimped-over por tions embedded within said groove.

12. The method of making a venetian blind slat which comprises preforming a longitudinal groove in one face of an elongated body member, applying a metal strip to said body, embedding portions of said strip withinthe groove and securing said body and metal strip together by an adhesive.

13. A'venetian blind Slat made of a predetermined iibrous material, and a sheet metal strip imbedded in said slat.

GEORGE D. DODGE. 

